Growing up as a war veteran's child

They experienced Australia's wars in a way no-one else has; via their fathers, who had returned from overseas forever changed by their experiences.

This year 774 ABC Melbourne presents a radio-online special gathering the stories of those whose fathers served in Australia's armed forces during wartime.

"When he got back from the second tour it was sort of 'I don't want to go out in crowded places'... I am definitely really proud my dad has the guts to go and help. I'm also really cautious about what I say around him because I don't know if he will find it upsetting..."

Hear the stories of the children whose fathers went to Papua New Guinea in World War 2; whose fathers served in Egypt, India and Russia in World War 1; who served in 'the forgotten war' in Korea, whose fathers were 'nashos' in Vietnam and those whose fathers are only recently returned home from East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan.

"He was the sort of man who shouldn't have been sent to war... when he came back he was morose, he did have the shakes occasionally... it took me half a lifetime to get my head around just who he was and where he was coming from and what it did to him..."

Ranging from the 12 year old whose Dad is still in active service to the 67 year old recalling a Dad who had served in both World Wars, hear the sons and daughters of Australia's servicemen speak of how their fathers came to terms with their military service and how they sAw their fathers changed by the experience.

"Mum used to often comment that the man who went overseas was not the same man who came home... I can remember my dad saying once 'kiddo you didn't win the lottery when you got me as a dad' - you know? I think I did win the lottery, he's a very, very good man."

Produced by 774 Melbourne senior producer Kimberly Howie, herself a daughter of a Vietnam veteran, this project has brought a huge response from people from all over Australia

On this page you'll hear from just nine of the hundreds of people who contacted the ABC wanting to tell their story:

Georgia Peace, 12, daughter of an Afghanistan veteran

Molly and Jessie Farquharson, 17 and 15, daughters of an East Timor veteran

Kate Pearson, 25, daughter of a Vietnam veteran

Anne Lethlean, 40, daughter of a Vietnam veteran

Dave Faulkner, 55, son of a World War II veteran

Jeffrey Diamond, 59, son of a World War II veteran

Ange Kenos, 57, son of a Korean veteran

Carolyn Kibell, 67, daughter of a veteran who served in World War I and II

The Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service is a free and confidential service available for all Australian veterans, peacekeepers and their families - contact them on 1800 011 046